Hydraulic axial vane pump or motor



April 5, 1949. I w. R. TUCKER ETAL 2,466,622

HYDRAULIC AXIAL VANE PUMP OR MOTOR Filed Nov. 7, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY April 9- w. R. TUCKER ETAL 2,466,622

HYDRAULIC AXIAL VANE PUMB OR MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1942 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WARREN RTuc ER Patented Apr. 5, 1949 HYDRAULIC AXIAL VANE PUMP OR MOTOR Warren R. Tucker and Johan A. Muller, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to H-P-M Development Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 7, 1942, Serial No. 464,918

\ 8 Claims. (01. 103-139) This invention relates to hydraulic machinery and, in particular, to rotary devices operable selectively as hydraulic pumps or motors.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel rotary pump or motor which is simple in construction and which is of relatively small size,

while having a relatively large volumetric radially as well as axially.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vane pump or motor unit which has a hollow rotor adapted to be slipped upon and keyed to any shaft of corresponding diameter for being driven by or for driving said shaft, without requiring any porting of said shaft.

Still another object of this invention consists in the provision of a vane pump or motor including a starter and a rotor rotatably mounted in said starter, in which the starter is provided with a plurality of pressure chambers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pump unit according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a developed lay-out taken through the active hydraulic areas of the motor or pump unit according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cam member cooperating with the vanes of the device according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cage pertaining to the device of the present invention.

Figures 6 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate the forces acting on the pump unit.

Structural arrangement Referring to the drawings in detail, I designates a rotor which is keyed by means of a key 2 to a shaft 3. The rotor l is provided with a ridge or flange 4 in which are formed circumferentially spaced, axially extending slots 4a in which are mounted a plurality of vanes 5. The vanes 5 are not movable radially with regard to the rotor, but are slidable in axial direction of the rotor.

The vanes 5 are laterally confined between cam rings 6 and I, which are provided on their insides with cam surfaces 8 and 9, as clearly indicated in Figures 3 and 4. The cam surfaces are so shaped that the distance therebetween is equal throughout the circumference of the rotor so that the vanes slidably fit between the cam rings. It is, therefore, evident that as a vane progresses from a starting point, such as that at the left side of Figure 3 toward a point spaced therefrom by the pumping chamber above the rotor I and formed by the latter, two adjacent vanes and the cylindrical cage or ring means [0 surrounding the vanes, diminishes in size, while the chamber below the rotor, with regard to Figure 3, increases in size. The upper chamber is, therefore, under pressure, while the lower one is under suction. Then, after the vanes proceed through the second half of their total 360 turn, the said two chambers reverse their function, i. e., the upper chamber becomes the suction chamber while the lower chamber becomes the pressure chamber.

While the cam surfaces as shown in the drawings are only slightly inclined, it is, of course, possible to shape the surfaces according to any desired pumping effect, and that although only two pumping chambers and two suction chambers are provided in the structure shown in the drawings, the number of the pumping chambers and suction chambers may be increased so as to produce more than two complete reciprocations of the vane during a single revolution of the rotor.

The cage I0 surrounding the vanes is assembled between the inner shoulders of the cam rings 6 and I. This cage is provided, around its outer periphery, with an annular groove or channel ll, communicating with groups of holes or passageways l2, l3, l4 and 15, which are drilled through the cage [0 at an angle with regard to the circular groove H, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 5.

The cage I0 is provided with openings [6, l1, l8 and I9, which communicate with the space confining the vanes 5 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. With regard to Figure 3, it should be noted that the development shown in this figure is taken through the openings l6, l1, l8 and I9 and the passageways l2, l3, l4 and I5 around the vanes 5. The openings or slots I6 and I8 communicate with the annular groove 20 provided in the cam ring 6, while the slots l1 and 19 communicate with the annular groove 2| provided in the cam ring I. These annular grooves 20 and 2| communicate with annular grooves 22 and 23 respectively, which are provided in a casing 24 housing the rotor, cam rings, vanes and cage,

which elements constitute the pumping or motor unit proper.

The grooves 22 and 23' are'interconnected by a' amass:

bore in the casing 24 and communicate with an outlet bore 26. The outlet bore 26 communicates through a conduit 21 with a fluid tank or reservoir 26. which also communicates through aconduit 29 with the suction. side of a variable delivery pump 30, of any conventional design.

The pressure side of the pump 30 communicates through a conduit 3| with an inlet bore 32 provided in the casing 24. The inlet bore 32 in its turn is in fluid communication with the annular channel II.

In the above description, it is assumed that The pumping unit, composed of the rotor, the

cam rings, vanes and cage I0, is assembled between antifriction bearings 33, 34 and 35, 36. The outer race of the bearing 34 is pressed against the cover 31 on the left side of the casing 24 and connected thereto in any convenient manner, for instance by screws 38 (only one being shown in the drawing). The outer race of the bearing 34 is engaged by the outer race of the bearing 33, while the bearing 33 is engaged by a flange 33 on the cam ring 6.

The cam ring 6, cage I0 and cam ring I are held in their respective relative position by a pin 46 passing through these three elements. The cam ring I is provided with a flange 4| engaged by the outer race of the bearing 35 and pressed thereagainst by the Outer race of the bearing 36 and the flanged cover 42, which latter is connected to the casing 24 by screws 43 (only one being shown in the drawing). The outer races of the bearings 33, 34, 35 and 36 are press-fitted in the casing 24 and hold the cam rings 6 and I and the cage I0 stationary with regard to the casing 24 so that proper fluid communication is maintained between the grooves 22 and 23 on one hand and the slots I6, I8 and I1, I3 on the other hand.

Operation If the device shown in the drawings is to be operated as a motor, it will be actuated in the following manner:

After the pump 30 has been started and, by actuationjof the lever 44, has been put on stroke, pressure fluid delivered by the pump 30 passes through the conduit 3| and inlet bore 32 into the annular groove II. From here it passes through the bores I2, I3, I4 and I5 between the adjacent duit 21 into the tank 28. To vary the speed ofthe rotor I, it is merely necessary to vary the delivery of the pump 30.

As will be clear from the above, the structure according to the invention is extremely simple, particularly with regard to the porting arrangement, and constitutes a. compact unit comprising the rotor I, the two cam rings 6 and I and the cage I6.

Since the rotor I is hollow and requires no porting, it can easily be slipped upon a shaft to be driven if the unit is intended to be used as a motor, or upon a driving shaft if the unit is to be used as a pump. This simple way of connecting the pump or motor unit with a shaft, spindle or the like, makes it possible to use the pumping or motor unit for various purposes, for which heretofore more complicated structures and devices were required. Particular attention is also directed to the fact that the motor or pumping unit according to the invention is balanced in radial as well as in axial direction.

Figure 6 diagrammatically illustrates the forces acting upon the pumping unit in axial direction. As will be seen therefrom, the forces F1, F2, F3 and F4 exerted upon the pumping unit in axial direction due to the pressure differences between the inlet holes I2, I3, I4 and I5 and the exhaust slots I6, I1, I8 and I9 pertaining thereto, form couples or moments which balance each other so that actually no force is exerted upon the pumping or motor unit in axial direction thereof.

It will also be noted that the forces exerted on the sides of the groove II balance each other, since the grooves 20 and 2|, provided on each side of the cage III, are interconnected.

Due to the even distribution of the inlet holes I2, I3, I4 and I5 and the exhaust slots I6, I1, I6 and I 9 around the periphery of the rotor, the forces F5, F6, F1 and Fe exerted upon the rotor, in radial direction thereof, balance each other.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination in a fluid pump or motor, a rotor. adapted to receive a shaft and to be connected therewith, a plurality of vanes slidable on said rotor in axial direction thereof and rotatable in unison with said rotor, a pair of cam means engaging the side edges of said vanes and arranged stationarily with regard to said rotor, each of said cam means comprising a plurality of depressions and intervening protuberances, ring means surrounding said vanes and arranged stationarily with regard to said cam means, first annular channel means around the outside of said ring means and other channel means between said ring means and said cam means, a plurality of passageways in said ring means communicating the spaces between said vanes with said channel means, said passageways constituting fluid inlets and outlets for said spaces, and a casing surrounding said cam means and ring means and having a cylindrical bore completely therethrough and end caps whereby the entire assembly may be inserted in said casing from either end thereof.

2. In combination in a fluid pump or motor, a rotor provided with an annular flange intermediate its ends, said flange having a plurality of spaced, longitudinally disposed, and radially extending slots, a shaft extending through said rotor and keyed thereto, said shaft being adapted selectively to drive said rotor or to be driven thereby, a plurality of vanes mounted in said slots and reciprocable in the axial direction of said rotor, spaced ring members slidably mounted on said rotor and engaging the ends of said vanes, a cylindrical member closely fitting around 7 plurality of equidistantly spaced pressure chambers and a plurality of intervening exhaust or suction chambers, said cylindrical member being provided with fluid inlets and outlets communieating with said chambers, said cylindrical member being abutted at each side by said ring members, means for holding said members stationary axially during the rotation of said rotor comprising anti-friction bearings abutting said rotor and said ring members and receiving said shaft, the outside diameter of said bearings and said members being identical, and a casing having a cylindrical bore therethrough for closely receiving said bearings and said members as an assembly from either end of said bore, the said casing having end plates secured thereto and abutting said bearings.

3. In combination in a fluid pump or motor, a rotor, two spaced cam rings surrounding said rotor and provided with cam surfaces facing each other, each of said cam surfaces comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced risers, a plurality of vanes having their ends in slidable engagement with said cam surfaces and being mounted on said rotor so as to rotate in unison therewith while being slid thereon in axial direction by continuous engagement with said cam surfaces, a cylindrical member surrounding and in contact with said vanes and the periphery of said rotor and telescoping said cam rings and being provided with a central external annular channel and with passageways effecting fluid connection between said channel and the chambers formed by said rotor, member and rings, means for holding said rings and said member stationary relatively, and a casing having a cylindrical bore completely therethrough for receiving said rotor, rings and member, from either end thereof and for mounting the same.

4. A fluid pump or motor comprising, a rotor having an outwardly-extending flange intermediate its ends, there being a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially and radially extending guideways in said flange, a vane mounted in each guideway, respectively, for axial sliding movement, a cage having an external peripheral channel, said cage having an internal cylindrical wall surrounding and in sliding contact with said flange and the outward axially-extending edges of said vanes, cam members telescoping each end of the cage to form with said rotor, flange, and cage, a plurality of chambers on each side of said flange, said cam members having risers spaced 180 apart and being shaped to continuously engage the radially extending edges of said vanes and axially slide said vanes as the vanes and rotor are rotated, there being passage means in said cage from said channel into each chamber, said passage means being spaced substantially 180 apart, there also being an exhaust opening through said cylindrical wall for each chamber, bearing means abutting said cam members and said rotor for journalling said rotor, the outside diameter of .said bearing means, said cam members and said cage being identical, and casing means having a cylindrical bore completely therethroughfor receiving the assembly of bearings, cam members, and cage and rotor from either end, and having end plates secured to said casing and abutting said bearings.

5. A fluid pump or motor comprising, a rotor having an outwardly-extending flange intermediate its'en'ds, there being a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending guideway means on said flange, a plurality of vanes, each adapted to be guided for axial sliding movement by a respective guideway means, a cage having a first external peripheral channel, said cage having an internal cylindrical wall surrounding and slidably engaging the periphery of said flange and the outward axially-extending edges of said vanes, cam members telescoping each end of the cage forming with said rotor, flange and cage, a plurality of fluid chambers on each side of said flange, and also forming with said cage second external peripheral channels, said cam members continuously engaging and axially shifting said vanes as the rotor and vanes are rotated, there being passageways in said cage from said first channel into each chamber, said passageways being spaced substantially apart, there also being peripheral openings in said cage one for each chamber, each opening being in substantial axial alignment with one of said passageways on the other side of the flange and communicating'with said second channels, anti-friction bearing abutting said rotor and said cam members and journaling said rotor, the outside diameter of said bearings, said cam members and said cage being identical, and a casing having a cylindrical bore completely therethrough for receiving the pumping assembly including bearing's from either end thereof.

6. In a fluid pump or motor, a casing having a cylindrical bore completely therethrough, a cylindrical member closely fitting said bore and having a cylindrical bore therethrough, a rotor closely fitting the cylindrical bore in said member and having a plurality of vanes axially slidable thereon, cam rings abutting said member at each side thereof and each having a cam surface facing toward the other ring for continuously engaging the radial edges of said vanes, said cam rings, rotor, vanes and member forming a plurality of pumping chambers on each side of said rotor, bearing means closely fitting the bore in said casing for journaling said rotor and for abutting said cam rings, and end plates secured to said casing and abutting said bearings for maintaining said rotor, cam rings and cylindrical member in rigid axial alignment, the entire assembly including bearings being removable from said casing from either end thereof by the removal of the end plate secured thereto.

'7. In a fluid pump or motor, a casing having a cylindrical bore completely therethrough, a cylindrical member closely fitting said bore and also having a cylindrical bore therethrough, a rotor closely fitting the said bore in said member and having vanes axially slidable thereon, a pair of shouldered cam rings closely fitting the cylindrical bore in said casing and telescoping said cylindrical member from each side thereof and each having a cam surface facing the other ring for continuously engaging the radial edges of said vanes, an annular channel around the outside of said cylindrical member forming a pressure chamber, means communicating said pressure chamber at spaced points with the spaces between the vanes on said rotor, a pair, of annular channels formed by said cam rings and said cylindrical member connected at spaced points with the spaces between said vanes and forming exhaust passages, bearing means closely flttxig the bore in said casing for journaling said rotor and abutting said cam rings, and end plates secured to said casing and abutting said bearings for maintaining said rotor, cam rings and member a straight cylindrical bore completely therethrough, a cylindrical member closely fitting said bore and also having a cylindrical bore therethrough and having an annular channel around the outside thereof, a pair 01 cam rings closely fitting the bore in said casing and having reduced diameter portions closely fitting the bore in said member, and having cam surfaces facing toward the inside of said member, there being annular channels defined by said cam rings and said cylindrical member, a rotor closely fitting the bore in said cylindrical member and having vanes slidable axially thereon with their radial edges continuously in engagement with the facing cam surfaces of said cam rings, said cam surfaces, rotor and cylindrical member forming a plurality of spaced pumping chambers on either side of said rotor, means communicating the annular channel about said member with one end of each of said pumping chambers for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, means'communicating the annular channels defined by said cam rings and said member with the other ends of said pumping chambers for receiving exhaust fluid therefrom; port means in said casing com- .municating respectively with said channels, antifriction bearings closely fitting the bore in said casing and abutting the rotor and said cam rings and .iournaling said rotor. and end plates secured to said casing and abutting said bearings for maintaining the entire assembly in rigid axial alignment and for permitting the removal of the entire assembly including bearings from either end of said casing.

WARREN R. TUCKER. JOHAN A. MULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

